Bubble blowing toy



June 27, 1961 J. B. FILGER ETAL BUBBLE BLOWING TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1958 WHI HT L Til HTTORMEXE.

June 27, 6 J. B. FILGER EI'AL 2,989,818

BUBBLE BLOWING TOY Filed July 23, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III! II II II I! n 3 Ill/Il/IIIIIIIII u I,

HTTOBNEYS.

June 27, 1961 J. B. FILGER EI'AL BUBBLE BLOWING TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23, 1958 INVENTORS.

ATTMENEYfi.

2,989,818 BUBBLE BLOWING T01? Joseph B. Filger, 3940 Dickson Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio,

and Robert I). Parry, Cincinnati, Ohio; said Parry assignor to said Filger Filed July 23, 1958, Ser. No. 756,323 10 Claims. (Cl. 46-7) This invention relates to bubble blowing toys, and one of the objectives of the invention has been to provide a bubble blowing toy having a spill-proof reservoir in it for bubble blowing fluid.

Such toys, in the past, have, for the most part, utilized an open reservoir and a dip ring, the ring being arranged to be dipped into the reservoir to receive the film of fluid through which air is blown to produce bubbles. Consequently, these toys have had to be held upright when in use to prevent spillage of fluid. By contrast, the toy of this invention may be tilted in any direction, shaken, thrown about or even laid aside for long periods without danger of the fluid leaking from the reservoir.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a bubble blowing toy in which controlled amounts of bubble blowing fluid are utilized to form the film through which air is blown to produce bubbles. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the film is formed by the combination of the spill-proof fluid reservoir, a bubble blowing ring or aperture over which the film of bubble blowing fluid is formed, and a wiper blade which is adapted to transfer fluid from the reservoir and spread it over the ring. In this way, by transferring only a small, controlled amount of fluid from the reservoir to the ring, there is no drippage of fluid from the toy while it is in use.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a bubble blowing toy which resembles a musical instrument, such as a trumpet or bugle. In the fulfillment of this objective the toy includes a mouthpiece into which the air is blown to produce bubbles. A reed also associated with the mouthpiece is adapted to produce a musical note at the same time the bubbles are produced. Also in the preferred embodiment, the wiper blade to which reference has been made is operated by means of an operating part of the simulated instrument such as a valve, which adds realism to the toy.

Other objectives of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a toy trumpet incorporating the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the same line as FIGURE 3, but showing the operating parts in positions to form a film of bubble blowing fluid over the aperture through which air is blown to form bubbles.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the rear face of the wiper blade.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing a modified form of the wiper blade.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line z8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating another modification of the wiper blade.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view 2,989,818 Patented June 27, 1961 through the front half of a toy musical instrument showing a modified form of the invention.

The toy trumpet which is shown in the drawings to illustrate the principles of the invention is made, following usual plastic molding techniques, in two parts designated it) and 11, which are hollow shells joined along a plane extending longitudinally through the toy. In the instance shown, a bell portion 12 is formed as a separate, integral part and it is joined to the assembled half shells 10 and 11. The two shells are configurated to provide a mouthpiece 13 through which air is blown to produce bubbles and in the illustrated embodiment to produce a musical note, as will be explained. Each shell is configurated interiorly to provide webs or walls 14, near the bell, and 1515, intermediate the bell and mouthpiece, to rigidify the structure. Also following routine plastic manufacturing techniques, the shell designated it which is illustrated in FIGURE 3 has a plurality of locator pins 16 which are adapted to be received in locator holes, not shown, which are molded into the shell 11. For convenience, all parts are assembled in one of the half shells, and then the other half shell secured in place by an appropriate plastic solvent or adhesive.

Bell 12 which is formed as an integral molding also includes the rear half 17 of a doughnut shaped bubble blowing fluid reservoir designated generally 18. The front half 19 of this reservoir is formed as a separate integral plastic molding, the two halves being joined on a plane which extends transversely through the bell, the juncture line being indicated at 20. Bell 12 is molded to provide a shoulder 21 which receives the forward ends or rims of the two shells 10 and 11 to provide a smooth exterior for the toy, the juncture line in this instance being designated 22 in FIGURE 1.

The mouthpiece portion of the toy is configurated to provide an air passageway through which air is blown into a hose 23 which extends through the hollow interior of the toy terminating at its forward end in a position to direct a stream of air through a bubble blowing ring 24 which, in the instance shown, is formed as an integral part of the forward half 19 of reservoir 18. The forward end of the hose is held in position by a hollow split block 25, the two halves of which are formed as integral parts of shells 10 and 11 respectively. The block is formed so as to provide a passageway 26 through which the hose 23 extends. Additionally, the mouthpiece portion 13 includes a chamber 27 in which a musical reed designated generally 28 is mounted.

The reed consists of a block 29 of plastic material having an aperture 30 through it which is covered by a thin metallic plate 31 held in place by means of a pin 32. Air from chamber 27 passes up through aperture 30 and causes the thin metal plate, which is the reed itself, to vibrate, thereby producing a musical note. Air passing the reed escapes through an opening 33 into the hollow interior of the toy and thence out the bell end. Obviously, the reed may be omitted or more than one reed be provided if desired.

The inner wall of the doughnut-shaped reservoir 18 at the lower side has an opening 34 in it to receive a wiper blade designated generally 35. It is preferred that the wiper blade and the opening be of such a size that the wiper blade blocks the opening when it is in the position shown in FIGURE 3. The wiper blade is mounted at the forward end of a wiper arm 36. This arm is pivoted on a pin 37 at internal wall 15. To the rear of the wall, the wiper blade is pinned as at 38 to the lower end of a hollow plastic plug 39' which is of a shape to simulate the valve of a trumpet. The plug 39 is slidably mounted in a bore 40* through the top of the toy, the bore serving as a guide for the plug. The lower end of plug 39 is engaged by one arm 41 of a safety pin type spring 42. The other arm of the spring shown at 43 rests upon the inside of the lower wall of the hollow toy. Normally, spring 43 serves to maintain the simulated valve in an elevated position which also holds the wiper blade 35 in the position shown in FIGURE 3 in which it extends through opening 34 into the interior of the reservoir. It may be seen, therefore, that the depressing of the plug or simulated valve 39 raises the forward end of the wiper arm, lifting the wiper itself from the reservoir and swinging it in an arc across the center of the doughnut-shaped reservoir.

The Wiper arm 36 preferably is made in the shape of an inverted channel for rigidity, including depending side flanges 44 and a horizontal web 45. Inasmuch as both the hose 23 through which air is blown and the wiper arm are centered in the toy, the arm has an opening 46 in it to clear the forward end of the hose and to permit air to pass through the arm toward the ring 24.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, the ring 24 is centered with respect to the doughnut-shaped reservoir, being fastened to the outer half 19 of the reservoir by means of three webs 47 which collectively form a spider. Additionally, it will be observed that the ring is formed gencrally on an are centered near the axis of the pivot pin for wiper arm 36 so that as the wiper blade swings up out of the reservoir it wipes across ring 24. This action is shown in FIGURE 4 and it will be observed that the rear half of the doughnut-shaped reservoir is relieved as at 48 to provide clearance for the arm when it is in its elevated position. This clearance may be molded into the reservoir following the configuration illustrated by the dot-dash lines designated 48 in FIGURE 2.

Although not critical, it is preferred that the ring 24 be made of a comparatively stiff or hard plastic material. On the other hand, it is preferred that the wiper blade be made of a semi-resilient plastic material to permit it to bend slightly when it is swung up into contact with the sides of ring 24 and thereby insure a smooth intimate contact between the wiper and the ring. As shown, the upper end of the wiper blade is substantially wide to provide a. base 49 which engages the underside of the web portion 45 of the wiper arm. In addition, the wiper blade may be initially molded to provide projections 50 which engage through apertures provided in the forward end of the wiper aim. These projections are swaged over in the assembly of the wiper blade arm to secure the two together.

It is preferred that the face of the wiper blade which comes in contact with the ring 24 be substantially flat or planar. However, in order to increase the bubble blowing fluid carrying capacity of the wiper blade the rear face is configurated to provide a plurality of vertical grooves such as those shown at 51 in FIGURES and 6, these grooves increasing the surface of the blade which comes into contact with the fluid and carrying a supply of fluid which runs down to the lower edge of the blade and from this edge spreads over the ring 24 to form a film across it through which air from the forward end of hose 23 passes to form bubbles. As shown, the lower edge of the blade is rounded as at 52 on an are which, it is found, assists in the spreading of the film of fluid over the aperture of ring 24.

Other configurations may be utilized for the rear face of the wiper blade, one such configuration being illustrated in FIGURE 7 in which a plurality of substantially diamond-shaped protuberances 53 are utilized, these protuberances increasing the surface area of the back face of the blade which increases the capacity of the blade for carrying fluid. Another means of achieving the same end is shown in FIGURE 9, wherein the blade is hollow as shown at 54 so that when the blade is dipped into the bubble blowing fluid, the fluid rises in the hollow blade, clinging to the inner walls of the blade and running from the blade as it is wiped across the ring 24 to spread a 4 film thereon. As shown, the upper end of the hollow interior of the blade of FIGURE 9 is vented as at 55 so that air does not become entrapped and prevent fluid from rising inside of the blade.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 10 a removable plug 56 is provided through the front wall of the doughnut-shaped reservoir to permit bubble blowing fluid to be injected into the reservoir. This plug may be made of a resilient material such as rubber or plastic and it includes a rounded nose 57 and a neck-down ring 58, the rounded nose assisting in the insertion of the plug.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the aperture which receives plug 56 is just above a plane which passes horizontally through the reservoir just below the lower part of the opening through which the wiper blade 35 enters the reservoir. This is to insure that the reservoir is not overly filled with fluid.

A comparison of FIGURES 2. and 4 of the drawings will show that the opening 34 into the interior of the reservoir constituted by the hollow doughnut is substantially long and narrow. It is also apparent that when the reservoir is filled to the level shown in FIGURE 2, the liquid cannot flow out of the opening when the toy is held in an upright position. Actually it is virtually impossible for the liquid to flow out of the opening 34 in any position of the reservoir, even when the wiper blade is in the raised position shown in FIGURE 4. This may best be understood from a consideration of FIGURE 3. If the sheet of drawings upon which this FIGURE 3 appears is turned so that the toy trumpet is in a vertical position, as it might be if it were stood upon the bell on a table, for example, the fluid runs around the part of the doughnut-shaped reservoir which is now the bottom in this position of the toy, and it may be appreciated that it does not come up to the level of the opening. On the other hand, if the toy is careless thrown down and it comes to rest on its side, the liquid simply flows around the interior of the hollow doughnut-shaped reservoir away from the opening. Unless a real effort is made, with the entrance into the reservoir open, there is little likelihood of even shaking the fluid from the opening because of the unique shape of the reservoir which permits the liquid within it to flow completely around it to any low place.

In the operation of the preferred embodiment of the toy the plug 56 is removed and an amount of fluid poured into the reservoir to bring the level, when the toy is held in a horizontal position, to a point just below opening 35. At this time the wiper blade, under the action of spring 42, blocks the opening 34 and with the plug 56 in place the toy can be turned in any direction or shaken or laid aside without danger of the fluid escaping from the reservoir. When air is blown into the mouthpiece a part of this air passes through the hose 23 and a stream of air is directed outwardly through the center of the bubble blowing ring 24. By depressing the simulated valve or plug 39 the wiper blade 35 is swung up to wipe a film of fluid over the ring 24. By holding down on the valve the wiper blade is held at the top of the ring and as bubbles are formed and blown from the film across the ring, bubble blowing fluid carried at the back of the wiper blade runs down and continues to feed the film so that a great number of bubbles may be blown. At the same time a part of the air blown into the mouthpiece passes the reed 28 and a musical note is sounded.

Referring now to the modified form of the invention shown in FIGURE 11 it will be seen that in this instance the ring 24 is formed in a web or wall 59 which extends across the inside of the musical instrument. The instrument shown here may follow the general configuration shown in FIGURE 3, in simulation of a trumpet, or may be made to simulate other musical instruments such as a clarinet if desired. In this case a reservoir 60 is provided having an annular chamber 61 which surrounds a circular opening 62 formed in a top 63 of the reservoir. A lip 64 is provided surrounding the opening 62 which depends down and turns back into the reservoir. Directly below opening 62 the reservoir is provided with a circular boss 65 which extends through an opening 66 in the bottom of the toy. Boss 65 has a head 67 which extends around it below the toy, this head providing a snap-on engagement for a removable cup 68 which is designed to carry bubble blowing fluid. The upper rim of the cup is configurated as shown at 69 to provide the snap-on engagement with the bead 67. The wiper arm 36 in this instance is pivoted on a pin 70 which is mounted between a pair of arms 7171 extending up from a block 72 mounted directly upon top of the rear edge of the reservoir. This block has a hole through it designated 73 through which the hose 23 extends, the hose being held in a position to direct a stream of air through the center f the ring 24. The rear end of the wiper arm has a slot 74 in it engaged by a cross pin 75 in the lower end of a simulated valve 76.

In the position shown in FIGURE 11, the wiper blade 35 is down in cup 68 within the fluid carried thereby. When the simulated valve is depressed the arm is swung up and a film of bubble blowing fluid is spread across ring 24 as previously described. The modification shown in FIGURE 11 has the advantage that cup 68 may be removed for filling. As in the case of the doughnut-shaped reservoir, the annular chamber 61 surrounding the cup is designed to receive fluid from the cup when the toy is inverted and to hold the fluid, preventing it from spilling from the toy until the toy is again turned upright at which time the fluid returns to the cup. The curved lip 64 surrounding opening '62 holds the liquid in the event the toy is turned completely upside-down. In this case some liquid may escape if the toy is shaken. This is not the case in the doughnut-shaped reservoir, and it is pre ferred over the reservoir of FIGURE 11 for this reason. The operation of the modified form of the invention is otherwise substantially identical to the operation of the preferred toy.

It is pointed out that the toy trumpet of the drawings is utilized for illustration purposes only. The essential parts of the toy are the wiper blade and the ring over which a film of bubble blowing fluid is formed by the wiper blade. It is obvious that these two essential parts, with a reservoir for bubble blowing fluid, may be incorporated in many diflerent types of toys.

Having described our invention we claim:

1. A bubble blowing toy comprising a simulated musical instrument having a mouthpiece at one end thereof, sound producing means associated with said mouthpiece, a reservoir in the end of said simulated musical instrument opposite to the mouthpiece to hold a supply of bubble blowing fluid, a wiper blade, means providing a bubble blowing aperture adjacent to said reservoir, means mounting said blade for movement from a position within the reservoir for collecting bubble blowing fluid thereon, across the aperture to spread a film of bubble blowing fluid thereon, to a position at the side of the aperture opposite the reservoir, a simulated operating part for said simulated musical instrument, means interconnecting said simulated operating part to the means mounting said wiper blade, whereby upon the operation of said simulated part the wiper blade is moved to deposit a film of bubble blowing fluid on the aperture, and means providing an air passageway from the mouthpiece to a point centered with respect to said aperture, whereby upon the blowing of air into the said mouthpiece and the operation of said simulated operating part sound is produced and bubbles are blown from the simulated instrument.

2. A bubble blowing toy comprising a simulated trumpet having a bell at one end thereof, a mouthpiece at the opposite end thereof, at least one simulated valve, a doughnut-shaped bubble blowing fluid reservoir mounted in the bell of said trumpet, a bubble blowing ring, means mounting said bubble blowing ring at the center of said doughnut-shaped reservoir, an opening at the inside of said doughnut-shaped reservoir which is adjacent to said ring, a wiper blade which is wider than said ring, means mounting said wiper blade for movement from a position in which it projects into said reservoir through said opening to collect bubble blowing fluid thereon, across the ring to deposit a film of bubble blowing fluid thereon and to a position in which it is at the side of the ring opposite to the opening into the reservoir, means connecting said simulated valve to the means mounting said wiper blade to move the blade for depositing a film of fluid on the ring upon the depression of said simulated valve, sound producing means associated with said mouthpiece, a hose extending from the mouthpiece through the simulated trumpet to a position to direct air issuing from the hose through the center of said ring, whereby upon the blowing of air into said mouthpiece and the depression of said simulated valve a sound is produced and bubbles are blown from the bell.

3. A bubble blowing device comprising a toy trumpet having a bell at one end thereof, a mouthpiece at the opposite end thereof, at least one simulated valve, a bubble blowing fluid reservoir associated with the bell of said toy trumpet, a bubble blowing ring, means mounting said bubble blowing ring adjacent to said reservoir, a wiper blade, means mounting said wiper blade for movement from a position in which it is in said reservoir to collect bubble blowing fluid thereon, across the ring to deposit a film of bubble blowing fluid therein and to a position in which it is at the side of the ring opposite to the reservoir, means connecting said simulated valve to the means mounting said wiper blade arranged to move the blade for depositing a film of fluid on the ring upon the operation of said simulated valve, a hose extending from the mouthpiece to a position to direct air issuing from the hose through the center of said ring, whereby upon the blowing of air into said mouthpiece and the operation of said simulated valve bubbles are blown from the bell.

4. A bubble blowing toy comprising a body portion which is in the shape of a trumpet, said body portion being two half shells which are joined along a plane through the longitudinal center of said body, an integral bell portion secured to said shells, a bubble blowing fluid reservoir associated with said bell portion, means associated with said bell portion adjacent to said reservoir having a bubble blowing aperture therein, a wiper blade, means to mount said wiper blade for movement from a position in which it projects into said reservoir to collect bubble blowing fluid thereon, across said aperture to deposit a film of bubble blowing fluid thereon and to a position at the side of said aperture opposite to the reservoir, a mouthpiece, and a hose extending from said mouthpiece toward the bell portion and terminating in a position to direct a stream of air outwardly through the center of said aperture.

5. A bubble blowing toy comprising a reservoir for bubble blowing fluid, means above said reservoir defining an aperture constituting a bubble blowing ring, a wiper blade, means mounting said wiper blade for movement from a lower position in which the blade is in the reservoir to collect bubble blowing fluid thereon, up across said' aperture for depositing a film of bubble blowing fluid thereover, into an elevated position in which the lower edge of the blade is immediately above the aperture, and the lower edge of the blade being configurated such that the center thereof is lower than the edges thereof, whereby bubble blowing fluid draining from the blade in said elevated position flows primarily from the center of the blade to add to the fluid in the deposited film.

6. A bubble blowing toy comprising a hollow body portion which is in the shape of a trumpet including a bell portion at the outer end thereof, a bubble blowing fluid reservoir associated with said bell portion which is in the shape of a hollow doughnut, the central aperture of the hollow doughnut-shaped reservoir constituting the opening to the bell portion from the inside of the hollow body portion of the trumpet, there being an opening in the wall of said reservoir which is at the lower side of said central aperture when the trumpet is in playing position, at least one simulated valve associated with the trumpet, means adapted to be dipped into the reservoir through said opening, means operatively connecting said simulated valve to the means adapted to be dipped into said reservoir, whereby actuation of the simulated valve operates the means adapted to be dipped into the reservoir through said opening.

7. A reservoir to hold bubble blowing fluid in a bubble blowing toy, said toy including means adapted to be dipped into bubble blowing fluid to collect said fluid thereon, said reservoir comprising a hollow doughnutshaped shell adapted normally to reside in an upright position and having an opening in the wall thereof which, in said normal position, is at the lower side of the central aperture through the doughnut-shaped shell to permit insertion of said means adapted to be dipped into bubble blowing fluid within the reservoir, and a filler opening in the wall of the reservoir which is located just above a plane which passes horizontally through the reservoir below said opening to insure that the reservoir is not overly filled with fluid.

8. A bubble blowing toy comprising a reservoir to hold a supply of bubble blowing fluid, a resilient wiper blade, means including a bubble blowing aperture therein mounted adjacent to said reservoir, means mounting said wiper blade for movement from a position in which it is within the reservoir to collect blowing fluid thereon, across the aperture to deposit said film thereon, said means mounting said blade being so related to the aperture that the resilient wiper blade is bed in intimate contact with the means having the aperture therein during said movement of the blade across said aperture, and the side of the wiper blade which makes contact with the means having the aperture therein being substantially flat, whereas the side of the blade opposite the first named side is configured to provide bubble blowing fluid retaining surfaces.

9. A bubble blowing toy as set forth in claim 8 in which the reservoir is in the shape of a hollow doughnut and is disposed concentrically with respect to said aperture.

10. A reservoir to hold bubble blowing fluid in a bubble blowing toy, said toy including means adapted to be dipped into bubble blowing fluid, said reservoir comprising a doughnut-shaped shell adapted normally to reside in an upright position and including an opening in the wall thereof which, in said normal position, is at the lower side of the central aperture through the doughnut-shaped shell to permit the means of the toy adapted to be dipped into the bubble blowing fluid ingress and egress into and out of said reservoir, and said doughnut-shaped shell being hollow throughout to provide a continuous passageway for bubble blowing fluid through 360 degrees around the interior of the shell when the shell is tipped over into a horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,162 Dobbins Nov. 15, 1921 2,391,797 Raspet Dec. 25, 1945 2,398,513 Bradley Apr. 16, 1946 2,631,404 Clausen Mar. 17, 1953 2,700,245 Kratt et a1. Jan. 25, 1955 2,700,845 Arliss Feb. 1, 1955 

